PATNA: All the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will have voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) mechanism in the upcoming parliamentary election, Chief Election Commissioner ( CEC ) Sunil Arora said here on Friday.Arora said the Election Commission (EC) would also introduce C-VigilApp in the upcoming Lok Sabha election to involve citizens in maintaining vigil on the violations of the model code of conduct and related matters like the distribution of money or liquor in any area. He said the identity of the complainants would not be revealed if they so desired. “It is part of the exercise to empower the citizens during elections. It was first started in Bengaluru during the Karnataka assembly polls,” he said, adding the EC’s expenditure observers would also maintain strict vigil on the situation.The CEC, who was on a two-day tour, ruled out the possibility of the return of ballot paper use in the polls. Noting that there was difference between “tampering” and “malfunctioning” of the EVMs, he said the EC officials have no track record of indulging in EVM tampering. He asserted that the EC has been “a robust system” and a committee of experts has also certified the robustness of the EVMs.“EVM malfunctioning is occasionally reported,” Arora said, adding that while voters exercised their franchise at 1.76 lakh polling booths during the recently held assembly elections in five states, the complaints received were from only six booths and that, too, not related to the EVM tampering. “Our objective is that there should not be even a single complaint,” he said.Arora and election commissioner Ashok Lavasa , assisted by a nine-member EC team, were in Patna over the last two days for separate interactive sessions with the representatives of political parties, senior officials of the central government offices like income tax, railways and airport, as well as banks, besides state government officials, including chief secretary, home department principal secretary, district magistrates (DMs) and SPs with eye on the management of the election process in respect of the parliamentary election.The CEC expressed concern over the law and order situation and even the involvement of “some police personnel” in the illegal liquor trade despite prohibition in the state since 2016. He hinted that the number of phases in which the polls are to held could be rationalized, but did not give details.“The chief secretary and principal secretary (home) said they are trying their best to improve the situation and action has also been taken, but they should do better,” the CEC said, adding the EC would make “effective intervention” if the field officers were found wanting in integrity with regard to the free, fair and impartial polling process.Appreciating the concerns of the political parties to enable voters from the poor and weaker sections to exercise their franchise, the CEC said direction had been given to make polling booths in any government or school building in their localities. He also asked the political parties to identify and depute their own booth level agents (BLAs).

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